MINI to open 3rd Michigan auto dealership in 2011 at ex-Jim Bradley site
This story was updated at 6 p.m. to reflect that new MINI dealership will be at the former Jim Bradley site; initial information from MINI on the location was incorrect.
The quirky MINI brand chose the Ann Arbor area for its third auto dealership in Michigan, a corporate spokeswoman confirmed this afternoon.
MINI will move to 3500 Jackson Road in Scio Township, the former Jim Bradley Pontiac-Buick-GMC location.
The location should be open by February 2011, said Nathalie Bauters, communications manager for MINI USA.
The 2011 MINI hardtop.
MINI USA
Mack Johnson, who recently purchased the former Jim Bradley dealership, will operate the MINI franchise, Bauters said.
The MINI dealership will be the third in Michigan; other outlets are in Macomb County’s Shelby Township and Grand Rapids.
The new dealership will be one of 14 new sales outlets for the brand — part of the BMW family — opening in 2011, according to MINI.
“We have been expanding our dealer network,” Bauters said, growing from 70 to about 100 since the brand launched U.S. sales in 2002.
The BMW Group calls MINI “the world’s first premium small car.”
MINI dealerships typically are located near BMW dealers, industry experts said. BMW of Ann Arbor, on Auto Mall Drive, is be located about a half-mile west of the MINI dealership site.
The MINI dealership expansion comes as the brand moves “from a 3-model franchise to a 6-model franchise,” Bauters said.
Joining the hard-top, convertible and clubman models are the Countryman models, including the first all-wheel drive MINI and first 4-door.
Sarah Woolson, marketing director at Mack Buick GMC, said the MINI dealership will be a partnership among Johnson and the late Jim Bradley's daughters, Angela and Vanessa.
They expect to demolish the existing building to build a new, 12,500-square-foot dealership. Woolson said demolition could take place in November.
Johnson bought the former Jim Bradley Pontiac- Buick-GMC dealership from Eastpointe-based auto dealer William Perkins in early July.
He also owns the building at 500 Auto Mall Dr., which he operated as a Saturn dealership until the brand was discontinued by General Motors. The building now houses the renamed Mack Buick-GMC franchise.
Taking on the MINI brand is a good fit for the dealership, Woolson said.
"MINI already has a large presence in Ann Arbor," she said. Its philosophy about creating a community around buyers is similar to what Saturn established when it launched, she added.
Johnson moved the Buick-GMC sales operations from the ex-Jim Bradley location at the corner of Wagner and Jackson roads.
Scio Township officials said they had no information on file regarding new construction at either site or permits for renovations, but they have had preliminary discussions about the project..
According to MINI, the brand sold 34,588 units in the U.S. as of the end of September, down 1.2 percent from a year earlier. September sales climbed 18.2 percent.
Paula Gardner is Business News Director of AnnArbor.com. Contact her at 734-623-2586 or by email. Sign up for the weekly Business Review newsletter, distributed every Thursday, here.
Comments
mr_annarbor
Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 1:21 p.m.
So, whatever happened to this dealership? Is it open yet?
ab
Fri, Nov 5, 2010 : 9:29 p.m.
Convenience Auto -what a great word of mouth business. I take my Lexus, Mazda and even Ford truck there for service. Honest, no games and very reasonable.
Susan Scott Morales, MSW
Thu, Oct 21, 2010 : 7:13 a.m.
I have so many people ask me about my mini and state that they'd get one if there was a dealership in A2. Glad to hear about the new dealership and the great location!
racerx
Thu, Oct 21, 2010 : 2:49 a.m.
This is great news! But I wonder what's up with the BMW dealership. Since it was brought by Sonic, there is hardly no inventory, and the 3 series cars on the lots appears to be repo's from another state, or off lease. Has anyone seen one of those GM dustbusters mini vans being sold as used there? WTF? At a BMW dealership? Seems that they brought a bunch of all wheel drive cars and they didn't sell since most were still out there. Or, it could simply just be the econonmy, but when has that ever stopped people in A2 from purchasing?
VelhoSorriso
Wed, Oct 20, 2010 : 7:30 p.m.
Convenience Auto on Liberty by Stadium services my MINI. Talk with Lou or Bill. Honest, reliable, oh... and conveeenient. I'm delighted we have local options.
Cheryl Gibbs
Wed, Oct 20, 2010 : 5:23 p.m.
I have owned a Mini for the last 4 years and have found the automotive technicians at P.A.T. do a great job helping me maintain my car. The Sterling Heights facility was nice, but just too far for an oil change or other routine work; it's great that Ann Arbor Mini owners and prospective owners will have the opportunity to visit a local Mini dealership.
Dan Romanchik
Wed, Oct 20, 2010 : 4:35 p.m.
This is great. We purchased a Mini three years ago, and have been making the trek to Sterling Heights whenever it needed service. It really wasn't all that bad because it uses synthetic oil, meaning oil changes aren't all that frequent, and they never made you wait very long. The new dealership will be much more convenient, though.
spm
Wed, Oct 20, 2010 : 3:51 p.m.
Fantastic. I've been wanting to get a new Mini, but didn't buy one solely because I'd need to go into Metro Detroit.
Bob Martel
Wed, Oct 20, 2010 : 2:58 p.m.
About time! I always feel sorry for the AA Mini owners who need to go all the way to Dequindre and M-59 for service. I was in the market for a Mini about three years ago and decided not to buy solely because the dealer was so far from home. I bought a Mazdaspeed 3 instead and get it serviced at Sessi.
ginnilee
Wed, Oct 20, 2010 : 2:43 p.m.
A2 should be a great market for the Mini-I plan to be a customer!
Ignatz
Wed, Oct 20, 2010 : 2:23 p.m.
This is outstanding news! I was thinking about buying a Mini, but didn't want to have to travel to Streling Heights for service. Maybe I should camp out now :-)